This is not easy to do. I think to come up with a comprehensive list of favourite guitarists would be difficult since it is inherently unfair to lop a hard rock/metal guitarist with a country/blue grass guitarist. Totally different styles, totally different techniques and sounds. But I thought I would throw it out there. Here are my top 10. Most of them are from the hard rock/metal categories.

Are you content with just being an intelligent hairless ape that just cannot resist the primitive urge to fling poo at people passing by, just like a monkey in the zoo ?

Do you stay in the field and do the work that you accepted, or do you continuously run back into town and give people black eyes, or maybe push them down the stairs, because they don't do what you do ?

Definitely Randy Rhoads--yes, Rhoads is the correct way to spell his name.

It's actually reported that if he hadn't died so young, he would have most probably left Ozzy's band after a few years to earn a degree in classical guitar at UCLA. << http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Rhoads >>

^That's not surprising. Really, how far could have Rhoads gone with Ozzy anyway? I think staying with Ozzy would have only hurt his career and devleopment as an artist. And, in my opinion, after Rhoads' death, Ozzy's music really couldn't compete with that of the first two albums.

1. The Edge2. The Edge3. The Edge4. The Edge5. The Edge6. The Edge7. The Edge8. The Edge9. The Edge10. The Edge

BTW- Did I mention that I like the Edge

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Troparion - Tone 1:O Sebastian, spurning the assemblies of the wicked,You gathered the wise martyrs Who with you cast down the enemy; And standing worthily before the throne of God, You gladden those who cry to you:Glory to him who has strengthened you! Glory to him who has granted you a crown!

Honorable mention: Jerry Garcia. I'm not a huge fan of GD, but he was pretty good.

I noticed the Edge wasn't on your list.......BLASPHEMY!

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Troparion - Tone 1:O Sebastian, spurning the assemblies of the wicked,You gathered the wise martyrs Who with you cast down the enemy; And standing worthily before the throne of God, You gladden those who cry to you:Glory to him who has strengthened you! Glory to him who has granted you a crown!

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who can watch the watchmen?"No one is paying attention to your post reports"Why do posters that claim to have me blocked keep sending me pms and responding to my posts? That makes no sense.

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who can watch the watchmen?"No one is paying attention to your post reports"Why do posters that claim to have me blocked keep sending me pms and responding to my posts? That makes no sense.

Similar list in many respects to mine. Schenker, Johnson and Mustaine didn't quite make the cut. As an Iron Maiden fan, I've never cared for Gers.

When Gers first joined the band, I hated him. But as I started progressing in my playing and understanding of music, and, most importantly, listened to live tapes (esp soundboard bootlegs) of Gers' rhythm playing, I came to realize that he's incredibly gifted. His soloing isn't usually to my taste (with a rare recent exception being "The Longest Day"), but for him to play like he does and dance around like he does is nothing short of incredible.

I've also discovered that, ironically enough, my own soloing tends to Gers' chaotic style, but I chalk that up to our mutual love for Blackmore's classic live playing.

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"Hearing a nun's confession is like being stoned to death with popcorn." --Abp. Fulton Sheen

Well, there it is. I mean, since the OP refers to "favourite" guitarists, there's no way I should have missed out on Woody. But I approached the list more in the spirit of who is a skilled or inventive musician, some of whom I still like a lot and many of whom I don't really listen to now. (Woody I would list as a favourite in terms of his overall appeal, rather than his guitar playing ability.) Even when it comes to skill, there are some players who I might list that are skilled in one particular area, but not in others. For example, I think Pete Townsend is a great rhythm guitarist, but not so great otherwise.

Sorry if I am stepping on any toes, but....Brian May? I have to admit that he was part of a band that was very influential and very creative in its way. Maybe he should be on the list just for that reason alone.

This is a very subjective science of course. How do you determine what "good," "great," or "best" is? But here are my personal criteria for assessing a guitarist's talent: A)Technical skill; B)Timing and tone; C)Emotional feel. And personally I value timing and tone, and emotional feel, more than technical skill.

Anyway, judging by these criteria, Carlos Santana is at the top of my list. He went poppy with "Supernatural" and subsequent releases (although his guitar work on those is still excellent), but dig deep into his older stuff and you will see a real genius. His ability to milk a single note and wrench every bit of emotion from it is unparallelled. Technically brilliant and yet always so smooth.

After Santana I would put reggae guitarists Earnest Ranglin and Junior Marvin up there. Earnest Ranglin is a brilliant reggae instrumentalist with a very Jazzy feel. And Junior Marvin played with Bob Marley for many years. Just listen to his guitar solo on "Waiting In Vain;" it's a perfect example of a great guitarist making somthing difficult sound very simple. True reggae guitarists know how to groove and always exude that subtle mystical feel.

I keep waiting for Carlos Santana to make an instrumental reggae CD! I bet that with his emotional feel and his love for good percussions he could make a great reggae record.

I play guitar, so this is fun!

Selam

« Last Edit: June 05, 2009, 04:04:18 AM by Gebre Menfes Kidus »

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"Whether it’s the guillotine, the hangman’s noose, or reciprocal endeavors of militaristic horror, radical evil will never be recompensed with radical punishment. The only answer, the only remedy, and the only truly effective response to radical evil is radical love."+ Gebre Menfes Kidus +http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000984270/Rebel-Song.aspx

Well, there it is. I mean, since the OP refers to "favourite" guitarists, there's no way I should have missed out on Woody. But I approached the list more in the spirit of who is a skilled or inventive musician, some of whom I still like a lot and many of whom I don't really listen to now. (Woody I would list as a favourite in terms of his overall appeal, rather than his guitar playing ability.) Even when it comes to skill, there are some players who I might list that are skilled in one particular area, but not in others. For example, I think Pete Townsend is a great rhythm guitarist, but not so great otherwise.

Sorry if I am stepping on any toes, but....Brian May? I have to admit that he was part of a band that was very influential and very creative in its way. Maybe he should be on the list just for that reason alone.

I kind of see Woody Guthrie as a package deal, with wit and guitar... really, Arlo is the better player. As far as Pete goes, yeah, he's an average player but he's so entertaining to watch and it's a wonder he can even manage to play with Roger, John, and especially Keith showboating all the time.

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Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. -- Douglas Adams

I consider him a great guitarist because he has such a unique sound. So many guitarists sound alike, but The Edge has that trademark ringy tone that really stands out. He's not necessarily that technically skilled, but as I mentioned earlier it's not always about speed and skill; it's about the feel, rhythm, and emotion. So The Edge gets props in my book. I just wish U2 hadn't sold out so long ago!

If you're looking for speed and technical ability, one of the best is Jazz guitarist Al DiMeola. Here's a little taste:

Oh yeah, we should all be ashamed for not having mentioned Wes Montgomery yet!

Selam

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"Whether it’s the guillotine, the hangman’s noose, or reciprocal endeavors of militaristic horror, radical evil will never be recompensed with radical punishment. The only answer, the only remedy, and the only truly effective response to radical evil is radical love."+ Gebre Menfes Kidus +http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000984270/Rebel-Song.aspx

"Whether it’s the guillotine, the hangman’s noose, or reciprocal endeavors of militaristic horror, radical evil will never be recompensed with radical punishment. The only answer, the only remedy, and the only truly effective response to radical evil is radical love."+ Gebre Menfes Kidus +http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000984270/Rebel-Song.aspx

"Whether it’s the guillotine, the hangman’s noose, or reciprocal endeavors of militaristic horror, radical evil will never be recompensed with radical punishment. The only answer, the only remedy, and the only truly effective response to radical evil is radical love."+ Gebre Menfes Kidus +http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000984270/Rebel-Song.aspx

IMO Leslie west is one of the most under appreciated Guitarists. For those who don't know of him, he is from the band Mountain.

« Last Edit: June 05, 2009, 06:42:42 PM by findingfaith »

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Are you content with just being an intelligent hairless ape that just cannot resist the primitive urge to fling poo at people passing by, just like a monkey in the zoo ?

Do you stay in the field and do the work that you accepted, or do you continuously run back into town and give people black eyes, or maybe push them down the stairs, because they don't do what you do ?

"Whether it’s the guillotine, the hangman’s noose, or reciprocal endeavors of militaristic horror, radical evil will never be recompensed with radical punishment. The only answer, the only remedy, and the only truly effective response to radical evil is radical love."+ Gebre Menfes Kidus +http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000984270/Rebel-Song.aspx

"Whether it’s the guillotine, the hangman’s noose, or reciprocal endeavors of militaristic horror, radical evil will never be recompensed with radical punishment. The only answer, the only remedy, and the only truly effective response to radical evil is radical love."+ Gebre Menfes Kidus +http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000984270/Rebel-Song.aspx

"Whether it’s the guillotine, the hangman’s noose, or reciprocal endeavors of militaristic horror, radical evil will never be recompensed with radical punishment. The only answer, the only remedy, and the only truly effective response to radical evil is radical love."+ Gebre Menfes Kidus +http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000984270/Rebel-Song.aspx

"Whether it’s the guillotine, the hangman’s noose, or reciprocal endeavors of militaristic horror, radical evil will never be recompensed with radical punishment. The only answer, the only remedy, and the only truly effective response to radical evil is radical love."+ Gebre Menfes Kidus +http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000984270/Rebel-Song.aspx